ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, March 19, 2012

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Monday, March 19, 2012

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Bone marrow transplant arrests symptoms in model of Rett syndrome (March 18, 2012) -- Medical researchers have used a bone marrow transplant to replace faulty immune system cells in models of Rett syndrome. The procedure arrested many severe symptoms of the childhood disorder, including abnormal breathing and movement, and extended the lifespan of Rett mouse models. Exploring the function of microglia deficient in the Rett protein scientists uncovered a completely novel approach to this devastating neurological syndrome. ... > full story

Genetic variation in East Asians found to explain resistance to cancer drugs (March 18, 2012) -- Scientists have identified the reason why some patients fail to respond to some of the most successful cancer drugs. ... > full story

Obesity raises death risk tied to sleeping pills (March 16, 2012) -- Obesity appears to significantly increase the risk of death tied to sleeping pills, nearly doubling the rate of mortality even among those prescribed 18 or fewer pills in a year, researchers have reported. ... > full story

Common virus can lead to life-threatening conditions in children (March 16, 2012) -- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that infects the lungs and breathing passage ways. Though it may only produce minor cold symptoms in adults, it can lead to serious illness in young children and those with compromised immune systems. ... > full story

Who wouldn't pay a penny for a sports car? The right strategy doesn't guarantee advantage in auctions, real estate or stock market (March 16, 2012) -- In a study of lowest unique bid auctions, researchers asked: Who wins these auctions, the strategic gambler or the lucky one? The answer is the lucky. But, ironically, it's a lucky person using a winning strategy. The researchers found that all players intuitively use the right strategy, and that turns the auction into a game of pure chance. The findings provide insight into playing the stock market, real estate market and other gambles. ... > full story

Nanopills release drugs directly from the inside of cells (March 16, 2012) -- Researchers in Spain have created nanoparticles which can release drugs directly from the cells' interior. The technology, which has been named "nanopills," was licensed to a firm that has verified its tolerance by administering it in vivo. ... > full story

Gambling addictions expert warns of dangers of internet gambling, especially on youth (March 16, 2012) -- Participating in an online March Madness bracket or fantasy sport league is harmless fun for most people, but for someone with a gambling addiction, it can be a dangerous temptation. “Now, with states entertaining the possibility of increasing revenue through legalizing internet gambling, it is even more important to pay attention to groups that may be vulnerable to problem gambling, particularly youth,” says Renee Cunningham-Williams, a gambling addictions expert. “Internet gambling provides youth with increased opportunities to gamble, which is particularly concerning because this generation is arguably the most technologically savvy of any generation in history.” ... > full story

Highly exposed to phthalates as fetuses, female mice have altered reproductive lives (March 16, 2012) -- Many environmental and public health officials are concerned about the potential health effects of phthalates, which are common chemicals used to make plastics softer and more pliable. In the first study to examine what effect in utero doses of phthalates have on the reproductive system of mice, toxicologists found that extremely high doses were associated with significant changes, such as a shortened reproductive lifespan and abnormal cell growth in mammary glands. ... > full story

Checking off symptoms online affects our perceptions of risk (March 16, 2012) -- You've been feeling under the weather. You Google your symptoms. A half-hour later, you're convinced it's nothing serious -- or afraid you have cancer. More than 60 percent of Americans get their health information online, and a majority of those decide whether to see a doctor based on what they find. "Wow, this is an era of self-diagnosis," thought Arizona State University psychologist Virginia Kwan, learning that statistic. Psychologists have asked how might online information affect individual health decisions? ... > full story

Molecular pathway through which common yeast becomes fungal pathogen determined (March 16, 2012) -- Scientists have found a molecular mechanism that plays a key role in the transition of Candida albicans yeast into disease-causing fungus -- one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infection. The finding highlights the importance of heat in fungal growth, and provides a new target for drug therapies to counter Candida albicans infection. In an additional study, the researchers identified 224 new genetic interactors for central protein in Candida albicans. ... > full story

Cell-signaling pathway has key role in development of gestational diabetes (March 16, 2012) -- Researchers have identified a cell-signaling pathway that plays a key role in increasing insulin secretion during pregnancy and, when blocked, leads to the development of gestational diabetes. ... > full story

Brain imaging study finds evidence of basis for caregiving impulse (March 16, 2012) -- Distinct patterns of activity -- which may indicate a predisposition to care for infants -- appear in the brains of adults who view an image of an infant face -- even when the child is not theirs, according to a study by an international team of researchers. ... > full story

Nano rescues skin: Shrimp shell nanotech for wound healing and anti-aging face cream (March 16, 2012) -- Nanoparticles containing chitosan have been shown to have effective antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Escherichia coli. The materials could be used as a protective wound-healing material to avoid opportunistic infection as well as working to facilitate wound healing. ... > full story

Lyme disease surge predicted for Northeastern US: Due to acorns and mice, not mild winter (March 16, 2012) -- The northeastern US should prepare for a surge in Lyme disease this spring. And we can blame fluctuations in acorns and mouse populations, not the mild winter. ... > full story

White rice increases risk of Type 2 diabetes, study claims (March 15, 2012) -- The risk of Type 2 diabetes is significantly increased if white rice is eaten regularly, claims a new study. ... > full story

A wandering mind reveals mental processes and priorities (March 15, 2012) -- Odds are, you’re not going to make it all the way through this article without thinking about something else. In fact, studies have found that our minds are wandering half the time, drifting off to thoughts unrelated to what we’re doing – did I remember to turn off the light? What should I have for dinner? ... > full story

Was human evolution caused by climate change? (March 15, 2012) -- Models of how animal and plant distributions are affected by climate change may also explain aspects of human evolution. ... > full story

Scientists map hotspots for genetic exchange in chimpanzees (March 15, 2012) -- Scientists have constructed the world's first genetic map in chimpanzees of recombination -- the exchange of genetic material within a chromosome that makes us all unique. The study shows surprising differences compared to how the process occurs in the human genome. ... > full story

Deprived of sex, jilted flies drink more alcohol (March 15, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered that a tiny molecule in the fly’s brain called neuropeptide F governs this behavior—as the levels of the molecule change in their brains, the flies’ behavior changes as well. ... > full story

With climate change, US could face risk from Chagas disease (March 15, 2012) -- People in the US may be at higher risk for Chagas disease than previously understood. A new study finds that 38 percent of kissing bugs collected in Arizona and California contained human blood and that more than 50 percent of the bugs also carried the parasite that causes this life-threatening disease. This upends the view that US kissing bug species don't regularly feed on people and suggests that Chagas could spread, driven north by climate change. ... > full story

Protein researchers unravel the molecular dance of DNA repair (March 15, 2012) -- Using state-of-the-art technology, scientists have successfully obtained "molecular snapshots" of tens of thousands processes involved in DNA damage repair. The results will help unravel exactly how cells repair their broken DNA, how chemotherapy affects cells' workings and will assist in the discovery of new drugs with fewer side effects. ... > full story

Revolution in personalized medicine: First-ever integrative 'Omics' profile lets scientist discover, track his diabetes onset (March 15, 2012) -- Researchers have reached an unprecedented analysis in the field of personalized medicine. Their findings rely on collecting and analyzing billions of individual bits of data, an integrative Personal "Omics" Profile, or iPOP. "Omics" indicates the study of a body of information, such as the genome or the proteome. The iPOP can identify and predict myriad problems including diabetes, and researchers say that such dynamic monitoring will soon become commonplace. ... > full story

Suppressing feelings of compassion makes people feel less moral (March 15, 2012) -- It's normal to not always act on your sense of compassion -- for example, by walking past a beggar on the street without giving them any money. Maybe you want to save your money or avoid engaging with a homeless person. But even if suppressing compassion avoids these costs, it may carry a personal cost of its own, according to a new study. ... > full story

The power of being heard: Group with less power benefits more from sharing its perspective (March 15, 2012) -- Researchers have shown that when it comes to intergroup conflict, the group with less power benefits more from sharing its perspective. ... > full story

Cell phone use in pregnancy may cause behavioral disorders in offspring, mouse study suggests (March 15, 2012) -- Exposure to radiation from cell phones during pregnancy affects the brain development of offspring, potentially leading to hyperactivity, researchers have determined. ... > full story

Cheaper drugs and better health care with a single chip (March 15, 2012) -- A researcher is developing technologies to miniaturize the first phase of a process used by pharmaceutical companies to discover new drugs. A breakthrough could ultimately lead to personalized and therefore more effective medical treatments, as well as major health care savings. ... > full story

Believing the impossible: No evidence for existence of psychic ability found (March 15, 2012) -- Research failing to find evidence for the existence of psychic ability has been published, following a year of industry debate. ... > full story

Dietary cadmium may be linked with breast cancer risk (March 15, 2012) -- Dietary cadmium, a toxic metal widely dispersed in the environment and found in many farm fertilizers, may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a new study. Cadmium occurs at low concentrations naturally, but scientists are concerned because contamination of farmland mainly due to atmospheric deposition and use of fertilizers leads to higher uptake in plants. Consuming whole grains and vegetables may counteract the effects. ... > full story

Recent generations focus more on fame, money than giving back (March 15, 2012) -- The times are changing, and not necessarily for the better when it comes to giving back to society, according to 40 years of research on 9 million young adults. Since the baby boomer generation, there has been a significant decline among young Americans in political participation, concern for others and interest in saving the environment, according to a new study. ... > full story

Health groups issue cervical cancer screening guidelines (March 14, 2012) -- A coalition of three health groups has released new guidelines for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer. The guidelines generally advise a reduction in the number of tests women get over their lifetime to better ensure that they receive the benefits of testing while minimizing the harms. ... > full story

How to best help your child lose weight: Lose weight yourself (March 14, 2012) -- A parent's weight change is a key contributor to the success of a child's weight loss in family-based treatment of childhood obesity. ... > full story

Scientists identify neural activity sequences that help form memory, decision-making (March 14, 2012) -- Researchers have used a novel virtual reality and brain imaging system to detect a form of neural activity underlying how the brain forms short-term memories that are used in making decisions. ... > full story

Loss of appetite deciphered in brain cell circuit (March 14, 2012) -- A brain circuit has been deciphered that mediates loss of appetite in mice. Potential therapeutic targets were discovered within the cell-signaling pathway. The results may be valuable in developing new treatments for such eating disorders as persistent nausea, food aversions, and anorexia nervosa. ... > full story

Evidence builds that meditation strengthens the brain (March 14, 2012) -- Researchers have found that long-term meditators have larger amounts of gyrification ("folding" of the cortex, which may allow the brain to process information faster) then non-meditators. Further, a correlation was found between the amount of gyrification and the number of meditation years, possibly providing further proof of the brain's neuroplasticity. ... > full story

Lack of sleep may increase calorie consumption (March 14, 2012) -- If you don't get enough sleep, you may also eat too much -- and thus be more likely to become obese. ... > full story

Eye health is related to brain health (March 14, 2012) -- People with mild vascular disease that causes damage to the retina in the eye are more likely to have problems with thinking and memory skills because they may also have vascular disease in the brain, according to a new study. ... > full story

Killer silk: Making silk fibers that kill anthrax and other microbes in minutes (March 14, 2012) -- A simple, inexpensive dip-and-dry treatment can convert ordinary silk into a fabric that kills disease-causing bacteria -- even the armor-coated spores of microbes like anthrax -- in minutes. Researchers describe a range of potential uses for this new killer silk, including make-shift curtains and other protective coatings that protect homes and other buildings in the event of a terrorist attack with anthrax. ... > full story

Evolutionary surprise: Developmental 'scaffold' for vertebrate brain found in brainless marine worm (March 14, 2012) -- Scientists report finding some of the genetic processes that regulate vertebrate brain development in the acorn worm, a brainless, burrowing marine invertebrate. ... > full story

Scientists discover drug side effects, interactions using new computer algorithm (March 14, 2012) -- Researchers have devised a computer algorithm that enabled them to swiftly sift through millions of reports to the US Food and Drug Administration by patients and their physicians and identify "true" drug side effects. The method also identified previously unsuspected interactions between pairs of drugs, notably that antidepressants called SSRIs interact with a common blood pressure medication to significantly increase the risk of a potentially deadly heart condition. ... > full story

Walking may lessen the influence of genes on obesity by half (March 14, 2012) -- Watching too much TV can worsen your genetic tendency towards obesity, but you can cut the effect in half by walking briskly for an hour a day, researchers report. ... > full story

Researchers identify unexpected player in intestinal immunity (March 14, 2012) -- With every meal, immune cells in the intestine stand like sentries at a citadel, turning away harmful bacteria but allowing vitamins and nutrients to pass. Now, researchers have identified the cells that chaperone food antigens, or proteins, in the intestine so that the immune system doesn’t mount an attack. Their discovery provides scientists with a potential target for therapies against inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and food allergies. ... > full story

Biologists uncover surprising connection between breast cancer cells and surrounding tissue (March 14, 2012) -- Biologists had found a previously unknown connection between breast cancer tumor cells and the surrounding healthy tissue. The results provide new information on the earliest stages of breast cancer metastasis. ... > full story

How salmonella avoids the body's immune response (March 14, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered how salmonella, a bacterium found in contaminated raw foods that causes major gastrointestinal distress in humans, thrives in the digestive tract despite the immune system's best efforts to destroy it. ... > full story

Epigenetic signatures direct the repair potential of reprogrammed cells (March 14, 2012) -- A research team has reprogrammed skin cells to identify epigenetic signatures that regulate the expression of a protein critical for repair of non-healing wounds. Identification of these signatures holds promise for future research aimed at applying these cells for personalized tissue regeneration. ... > full story

H. pylori bacteria linked to blood sugar control in adult type II diabetes (March 14, 2012) -- A new study reveals that the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria is associated with elevated levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), an important biomarker for blood glucose levels and diabetes. The association was even stronger in obese individuals with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI). The results suggest the bacteria may play a role in the development of diabetes in adults. ... > full story

Motivation to be active may lead to impulsive behavior (March 14, 2012) -- Those motivated to actively change bad habits may be setting themselves up for failure, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Health and ecosystem issues found with popular pavement sealcoat (March 14, 2012) -- A parking lot at the edge of the University of New Hampshire campus has contributed important research to an emerging concern for the environment and human health. The research has found that one type of pavement sealcoat, common on driveways and parking lots throughout the nation, has significant health and ecosystem implications. ... > full story

'Brain fog' of menopause confirmed (March 14, 2012) -- The difficulties that many women describe as memory problems when menopause approaches are real, according to a new study. The findings won't come as a surprise to millions of women, but the results validate their experiences and provide some clues to what is happening in the brain as women hit menopause. ... > full story